Saturday, March 19, 2016

Mission (almost) accomplished!

This will make fifteen little finishes just this year, once it is bound. That pile of little flimsies is getting tamed, slowly, but surely! This was Temecula's Summer Stars SAL, in a different setting than they used.

The number 15 doesn't include the wool mat and 2 pincushions I have squeezed in, too. Oh, it feels so good to see the pile of little flimsies down to almost nothing! (We won't talk about all of the bed-size ones hanging in the closet, okay?) Most of these were pieced between one and three years ago and have been languishing ever since!

This is only the second time I have tried curved cross-hatching on anything other than a practice sandwich.

I love the look, but it is a bit fiddly to do.

You have to measure and mark the guidelines in each triangle.

Then you sew each individual arc going one direction, using a curved ruler as guide. Next you reverse and make the arcs coming from the other direction to create the cross-hatching.

All the while I have my straight edge ruler handy for all of the backtrack in the ditch you have to do when creating this design.

The curved rulers I use are from Jamie Wallen. He has videos on this same page that show how to do the curved cross-hatch in squares and triangles. Very helpful.

After finishing the cross-hatching, I couldn't find a design for the outer border that fit the dimensions and also matched the density on the cross-hatching.

I finally took a stencil, masked off one side of it, and tried staggering the pattern on a practice sandwich to see if it would fill in the way I hoped. (I like to make my stencils work for me. I try to see them as more than just the obvious design.) Then I marked the design in that overlapped way all around the quilt and stitched it in.

From this close-up you can also see that the sashing around the stars is a navy blue with a print in it. The outer dark border is solid navy. I ran out of the print and it was old enough I couldn't find more. I even had to piece it in a couple of places to sash the stars.

Now that same fabric has been reprinted as part of "Jo's Favorites", so I will be able to use it for the binding. The color is very true.

Here are the before and after shots of the latest batch, minus the batik
mini. It is already gifted, but I have replaced it with the log cabin
mini, which was a new start and finish this year.

The next batch of little quilts got basted Friday. Five of these are from past SALs (see why I am avoiding them?). I won't be getting these quilted as quickly--at least I don't think so. I know how I will be quilting a couple of them. On the ones that currently elude me, I just start with the ditch stitching and hope that inspiration strikes before I finish that step.

I only have 6 more little flimsies left in the pile, and another 5 or 6 minis in the works. I want to do better in the future at not making as many starts until I catch up on more finishes. I know not everyone needs that, but when I have a mountain of unfinished business hanging over me it becomes oppressive to me. This doesn't mean I will not have UFOs anymore--not by a long shot!! But I don't like it when it gets too far out of hand!

Well, I have done it again--another lengthy post. My apologies. Until next time, when I hope I don't have so much to say!Janet O.

35 comments:

No need to apologize, my favorite blogger posts are when folks share their process with lots of photos. Your curved crosshatch work is wonderful. I love the look, but (so far) haven't been tempted to search out the rulers and learn how to do it. I think it must be especially gratifying to see the pile of finishes build up so rapidly, and especially having another batch already pinned and set to go! Have a great weekend!

You're well on your way to a whole 'nother trunk show!! Loved ur mini demo on crosshatching - I've been doing some research on template work and will be getting a ruler foot for my Bernina soon and then I'm hoping the AQS-Syracuse show will have a selection of rulers. Any particular reason u like the ones u have?

OMG ... what a work ! What a beautiful quilting ! Thank you for sharing because you inspired me a lot with the pics !I'm sure we are many to have tops in drawers waiting for quilting... this means we are just busy quilters ! :)

Your finishes are lovely. Never apologize for a long post! Especially one that explains HOW you do what you do; very informative, thank you! Is your machine a short-arm? I've been toying with the idea of using quilting rulers on my Bernina, so I'd be interested in what your answer to Sarah (above) was. I especially love that curved cross hatching. Lovely work!

I love the secondary pattern you got out of your stencil, it was very effective on the border and perfect for a narrow space. I have never quilted using a ruler as a guide, so thanks for the pictures, the visual guide was most helpful.

You are phenomenal. You'll be ready for another trunk show with all of these little quilts. The curved cross hatching is a great design and adds a very nice look. Glad you went with it on the quilt. Thanks for sharing your process. It won't be long before we see the next batch!

The curved crosshatching is remarkably involved to produce and it looks lovely! How on earth can you prevent that curved ruler from slip-sliding away, as the song goes? I always admire your pretty mini's and this post is no exception.

Love all your fresh finishes Janet. Do you use a Frixion pen when you mark with a stencil? Or perhaps chalk? Just wondering..... Like all your other readers, I adore that curved cross hatching - I should come and watch you while you work some day!!!!!

No need to apologize for the length of you your blog, I could read your stories all day long, they are so interesting. Your quilting is so awesome and fantastic. I think you take more time with your quilting than it takes to make your super minis. All your work is outstanding.... Love all the photos that you share with us.

Thanks for showing the behind the scenes efforts you make to quilt. I'm not nearly so inventive and certainly admire all the frosting your little quilts get. All those little quilts deserve to be quilted!

Wow, Janet!! This one is darling and the quilting on it is fantastic!! May I come over one of these days when you are going to use the rulers to quilt so I can watch how you do it? I would love to get past only being able to do "meandering"!!

About Me

My priorities are my faith, family, freedom and fun. I have a wonderful husband, four great grown children and five precious grandchildren. I love to quilt, read, walk, garden, make soap, watch old movies and play Euro-style board games. I am trying to come to terms with gluten-free baking.